Chapter 15 - The Deal I Almost Lost
We eventually purchased the Baltimore estate.
Not for $180 million.
For $137 million.
No shell companies.
No secret commissions.
No Harrison.
The board called it one of our best acquisitions.
I found that funny.
The deal became successful precisely because I had walked away from it.
At the opening ceremony, reporters asked about my “remarkable business instinct.”
I looked toward Rosalind and the boys.
“It wasn't instinct.”
“What was it?”
“A mechanical delay.”
People laughed.
I didn't.
One delayed airplane had redirected my entire life.
After the ceremony, Oliver and Elliot ran along the waterfront.
Rosalind stood beside me.
“You know what's strange?”
“What?”
“If your flight had left on time…”
“I know.”
“You'd have gone to Baltimore.”
“And you would have boarded yours.”
She had been traveling through Minneapolis on her way to Wisconsin to investigate the anonymous letter.
Our paths overlapped by less than two hours.
Two hours after six years.
I reached for her hand.
“I'm done believing important things happen on my schedule.”
She smiled.
“That's growth for you.”
That evening, I took her onto the terrace.
I had a ring in my pocket.
But I didn't use it.
Not yet.
Instead I asked:
“Would you ever marry me?”
She stared at me.
“Is that a proposal?”
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
“A question.”
Her smile softened.
“Yes.”
My heart jumped.
“Eventually.”
I laughed.
Fair enough.
Then she kissed me.
From behind us, Elliot yelled:
“Gross!”
Oliver yelled:
“Do it again!”
We laughed.
For once, happiness didn't feel like something waiting to be taken away.
But there was one person still outside that happiness.
Genevieve.
And unexpectedly, it was Elliot who asked the question none of us knew how to answer.
May you like
“When do we meet Grandma?”
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